Carnegie Mellon University

November 29, 2018

Dear Members of the Pittsburgh Campus Community:

Today we learned that a book defaced with anti-Semitic language and symbols was discovered in Hunt Library. I am distressed and saddened by yet another act of hate in our community. 

We must be clear: We condemn this evil. We reject bigotry in all its forms — it has no place in society. To members of the Jewish faith who are feeling especially vulnerable right now, please know that we are committed to providing a safe environment for our entire community and, especially in the wake of the violence at Tree of Life Synagogue, we are maintaining the highest level of vigilance. 

While we do not know when the book was vandalized, both CMU Police and the Division of Student Affairs are taking appropriate measures to investigate. I urge any member of this community with knowledge of this incident to please contact Detective Bernarding of the CMU Police Department at 412-268-4185 or jbdz@andrew.cmu.edu.

This is an important time to reaffirm that inclusion and respect have a singular place among the values of this university. I ask all of you to join me in living out our commitment to those values and speaking out against any acts of hatred that undermine the strength and resiliency of our diverse community.  

Sincerely,

Farnam Jahanian
President
Henry L. Hillman President's Chair
Carnegie Mellon University